Grandma lives in the quaint, Costa Rican town of La Garita. She has over 10 small houses to rent on over 10 acres of property. If you're looking for a comfortable, real Costa Rican experience, I would have to recommend Norma's!

Grandma Norma has been renting out space in her house since the 90s, and expanded and built little houses on her property several years ago. There are three pools, a tennis court, and a space for events (dancing, yoga, etc) on the property. There's enough space that you can avoid everyone if you'd like, or drop by the communal kitchen/pool area to socialize with the rest of the guests.

My grandma's nickname is "the umbrella" because she is always lucky. In Spanish, that's 'paraguas.'

I'm currently studying to receive my MFA in creative writing. I graduated from NYU with a degree in Philosophy.

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Reviews From Guests

Norma’s Villas was just what I needed after a long New York winter. I was looking for a safe and quiet place to write. I arrived in mid-April and loved the villa and property so much that I asked to stay another month. It's hard to appreciate the size of the property until you arrive. The rear pool is relaxing, with iguanas running up mango trees and cows grazing by the fence on a neighboring farm. There are guavas, mangoes, cashews and coconuts growing on the property. Pickers can usually be found, if you want to grab a mango for breakfast. Norma is typically around if you need help. But she also gives you your space, which I appreciate as a writer. Lisa was very helpful in giving me tips on catching the bus and finding the best currency exchange. There are two nearby country markets. Atenas and downtown Alajuela are cheap and easy to reach by bus. The buses don’t always come on schedule, but it’s fun adventure. Overall Norma’s Villas provide a lovely Costa Rican retreat, with an nice mixture of English and Spanish speaking residents.

We really enjoyed our 4 nights at Norma's. Norma was very pleasant and responded to all our requests. The 2 pools are nice and clean. Quiet surrounding. Ideal base camp for exploring the central valley including the Poas and coffee plantations. Nice restaurant not too far. Driving instructions might be a bit tricky if you are not arriving from the airport. Ask for specific directions depending on where you are arriving from. we would go back again.

Our stay at Norma's was a good opportunity for decompression after the stress of work and school, and before exploring other areas of Costa Rica. Lisa and Norma helped arrange transportation from the airport and Norma met us each (arriving on separate days from separate countries) at the gate to show us to the cottage. The studio accommodation was very cute, with a large kitchen. It was reasonably well equipped for our short stay, though we lacked a few essentials such as salt and pepper, which I imagine one could borrow from the communal kitchen if needed. The best part about the cottage is the little front patio, where you can watch the birds and lizards going around the grounds. The property itself is also nice to walk around on, and the pools are beautiful even if on the cold side. Nothing much is happening in neighborhood around the villas--the grocery store a few minutes' walk away is good for some things, but a ride to town would probably be better for those looking to do real cooking. We only went to one of the nearby restaurants, Festival de Maiz, but it was fine for when we didn't want to cook. Overall, the stay was very relaxing and is recommended for those looking to do that, and pretty much only that, unless you are willing to take buses or taxis to get to more happening areas. Thanks to Norma and Lisa for a pleasant stay.

I really enjoyed my stay at Villa Norma! I'd stay here again. The property is clean and well kept, and Lisa and Norma are very helpful hosts. Lisa gave me a tour of the grounds when I first arrived (she was only in town for a few days) and Norma was always readily available to help me with travel plans. Cergio who works the grounds was very friendly and would often pick fruit and leave it for the residents to enjoy. He once cut a coconut with a machete for an afternoon drink for me.
I explored La Garita and think that this is one of the best properties for expats visiting. It's right next to the bus stop that takes you to Turrucares, Alajuela, Atenas, or San Jose.
Thanks Norma!

Norma's Villas exceeded all my expectations!
If you're looking for a place that's clean, quiet and secure with a gracious and helpful host, look no more.
I happen to be a woman, early 50s, traveling alone, writing my first crime novel. My top twin concerns will always be safety and privacy. I found both at Norma's Villas. The property is perfect for creative minds. Inspired by calm surroundings, beautiful birds, funny iguanas and three glorious pools, my writing flourished!
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Bus routes stop right near Norma's Villas, which makes exploring regions further away pretty easy, even without a car. The property is near several eateries, and one short-bus ride away from ATM bank access, major groceries and a great zoo!
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Norma's Villas is about a 90 minute drive from popular beaches, including Jaco and a ferry ride away from the renowned surfing mecca of Montezuma. Just the right distance for me because I favor learning true, day-to-day Costa Rican culture versus crowded and sometimes overly commercialized beaches.
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Everyone loses weight here! I think one reason is that each cabana has its own kitchen, so you can keep your meals healthy, fresh and you aren't dependent upon opening or closing times of the nearby eateries. I love to cook, so coming here meant meals could be whatever I wanted, whenever! Mangos fall from 10-acres of beautiful trees, sliced and in your salad in 2 minutes!
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After safety and tranquility.. THE BEST feature for me... the warm and friendly atmosphere Norma provides. She's always helpful with spot-on advice on everything from how to get around the Central Pacific Valley, to indigenous recipes, airport taxes or best place to join locals to watch FIFA World Cup Soccer 2014! Costa Rica upset Uruguay 3-1!!! Having an inside track on where to be among real Ticos was awesome!
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Norma's granddaughter Lisa Martens' immediate responses to my 45 emails proved invaluable. I happened to be here when Norma's son and Lisa's dad Rick visited! He and wife Bonnie shared the best conversations and Ceviche ever! Wonderful family, and great hosts!
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Joining the ranks of many other guests here, I have already re-booked Norma's Villas for another three months!!

We stayed for sex weeks at Villas Norma and enjoyed it thoroughly. Norma is a very kind woman, helpful and nice. Her granddaughter, Lisa, who is managing the bookings on Air Bnb is also superfriendly and helped us a lot during the reservation process.
There are about ten houses at Normas and I think we were lucky enough to get the house with the best location: at the far end, next to two of the swimming pools. We therefore almost had a feeling of having the place on our own. The other people staying at Norma's are mainly staying long term - it is a colourful gallery of people and the social part of staying at Norma's was one thing that we liked.
The gardens at Norma's are very big and there are plenty of places for kids to play in and to explore. Parts of the gardens are not maintained and for example the playground is now rusty and cannot be properly used. Our house was fairly well equipped in the kitchen and was very well suited for our family of two adults and two small children. Norma had installed a baby bed and a baby chair in the house and she also lent her baby car seat when we went on trips in the surroundings.
La Garita as a village has quite little to offer however - a couple of restaurants within walking distance and a fairly well supplied supermercado. However, it is a great base for excursions and you can easily get too the nice towns Atenas (which is small) and Alajuela (which is bigger) by a 20 minute bus ride. Zoo Ave and a botanical garden are also nearby.
All in all we are very happy with our staying at Norma's and would recommend it to anybody looking for a relaxing stay that also serves as a great base for exploring the surroundings.

Lisa was great. She was smart, funny, appreciative of everything, and a joy to hang out with. We hope she chooses to stay with us again, if she returns to Seattle. If you are a host, you are well advised to say, "yes" to Lisa.

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As a quality assurance manager for a line of luxury hotels, I considered booking a week at one of my company's resorts in Costa Rica. I am so glad I contacted my lifelong pal and soul sister, Lisa before I did. Instead of staying at a stuffy Americanized resort chain, I got to experience local life and the true Pura Vida experience. Grandma Norma's welcoming glow put me at ease after a long flight and she was sure to have the freshest fruits, breads, and coffee, laid out for easy access. Whether you are hanging out poolside or planning a three day adventure to nearby San Jose, Norma is THE expert and authority on where to go and who to see. There is no doubt in my mind I would have wasted my summer vacation if I had booked anywhere else but Normas Villas.

I have known Lisa since 2005 and she is one of my very good friend. She is very articulate, professional, creative, and fun to be around. She is also a very hard working person who never lets anything get her down. I had the chance to experience staying in La Garita, Costa Rica. Thanks to Lisa and her grandmother I immediately felt welcomed and they always made sure I was comfortable. I would recommend anyone interested in staying in Costa Rica to contact her!

I've worked with Lisa for several years and now consider her a friend of mine. She is very capable, responsible, and communicative. She's also fun-loving and easy to work with. I would definitely recommend her as a host!